At Signing Day, a tradition at Lenoir County Early College High School, graduating seniors used videos to reveal their future plans. Emily Leonard is headed to the University of North Carolina, where she'll enter as a junior thanks to college credits she has accumulated in the Early College program. At right is Early College school counselor Karen Roddy.

Early College’s graduating seniors commit to next step in their plan at Signing Day 2018

Karla Torres wanted something new and different when she opted for Early College instead of a traditional high school. She’s seeking the same by enlisting in the U.S. Army next month, after acquiring a diploma, an associate degree and more than 80 college credits in the past four years.

Karla Torres opted for Lenoir County Early College High School instead of a traditional high school when she left Woodington Middle School because she “wanted a different environment and wanted to meet new people.” Four years later, her quest for something new and different has helped shape a life plan.

On May 10 and May 11, respectively, Torres will graduate with a diploma from Early College and an associate degree from Lenoir Community College. By May 22, she will be in Oklahoma to begin basic training in the U.S. Army. After basic, she’ll leave for Texas and advanced training as a medic.

“After that, I get to decide where I want to go,” the 18-year-old said. “I’m thinking Germany or Japan.”

Virtually all of Early College’s Class of 2018 have somewhere to go that, if not quite as exotic as Japan, is still big and interesting and part of a life plan. They unveiled the next step in that plan on Friday during Signing Day, an Early College tradition in which graduating seniors, in a public ceremony, announce their intentions after graduation and pledge to “strive for excellence” in that endeavor.

Nora Askew’s Signing Day video featured her dog and an NC State T-shirt.

In a graduating class of 56 students – the largest yet for Early College – 26 will be moving on to a four-year college – UNC, NC State, UNC-Greensboro, Delaware State, UNC-Charlotte, Campbell and North Carolina A&T, among a host of campuses. Eight will be studying at a community college and 18 will be joining the workforce.

Forty-three graduating seniors will receive, in addition to diplomas, either associate degrees or occupational certification from LCC. Sixteen of those will have acquired their diploma and associate degree in four years, giving them a two-year head start on a bachelor’s degree.

“Since I already have two years, I’m going to jump right in to courses for my biology major,” said Nora Askew, 17, of Kinston, who will be attending N.C. State University armed with an associate of science degree from LCC. The daughter of Sherry Askew of Kinston, she attended E.B. Frink Middle School.

Jayla Moore, left, and Heather Faulkner will both attend Campbell University after graduating new month with a high school diploma from Early College and an associate degree from Lenoir Community College.

On Signing Day, the graduating seniors used short videos to introduce themselves, thank their friends and favorite faculty members at Early College and build anticipation for the big announcement. When the white dog Askew held for most of her video jumped out of her arms, her red N.C. State shirt was revealed. In her video, Heather Faulkner concluded by holding up a Campbell University license plate.

She decided on Campbell after attending a visitation day in Buies Creek and encountering fellow Early College senior Jayla Moore. “We ran into each other and we both loved it so much we decided we would go there together and room together. I didn’t even know she was going to visitation,” Faulkner said.

At Campbell, both will pursue careers in medical fields – Faulkner in clinical research with an eye toward pharmacy and Moore in pre-med psychology – and both credit instructors at Early College and LCC with igniting in them an abiding interest in science. “I really wasn’t that into science,” Faulkner said. “My teachers really helped me discover my love for chemistry.”

Moore, the daughter of James and Selena Moore of Kinston, came to Early College from Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School and will leave with a diplomas and an associate of arts degree. Faulkner, of La Grange, the daughter of Amy Delia and Jerome Faulkner, attended Frink Middle and will graduate with an associate of science degree in addition to her Early College diploma.

Both will begin their studies at Campbell with credits enough to make them juniors, minus a few courses Campbell requires of freshmen.

“Graduates, I hope you feel today is one of those epic occasions in your life,” Early College principal Diane Heath told the Class of 2018 in remarks that began Signing Day. “We know you are prepared and you are anxious to take on these commitments that will be announced today.”

Marcos Bautista, a graduating senior at Lenoir County Early College High School, inks his letter of intent during Early College’s Signing Day on Friday in front of a video that concludes by revealing he’s moving on to East Carolina University, where he’ll enter as a junior. At right is school counselor Karen Roddy.

The plan to which Marcos Bautista committed himself will take him to East Carolina University and a major in criminal justice. “I wanted to stay close to home, so East Carolina was a good choice for me,” he said after the Signing Day program. His interest in criminal justice developed while at Early College, he said, influenced some by his sister, a criminal justice major at LCC.

The son of Hector and Juana Bautista of Kinston, he’ll graduate with an associate of arts degree in addition to his diploma and begin his time at ECU as a junior. That part has worked out as planned. “I wanted to try a new experience and I realized how good an opportunity this was,” he said of his decision to try Early College. “I decided I could not miss this chance.”

In his video, Bautista made a point of mentioning the support he’d received at Early College from a classmate who came with him from Woodington – Karla Torres. “I’m so proud of both of our accomplishments,” he said in the video, “and I know you’re going to go out there and do great things.”

Torres, of Deep Run, the daughter of Jorge Torres and Magdamena Aguinaga, accumulated more than 80 college credits while an Early College student. Her plan includes more time in a college classroom. “I plan on staying in the Army for 20 years to get that full benefit,” he said. “I’ll be going to school while I’m in the Army.”

She is one of three members of her graduating class who’ve chosen the military as their next step. “It’s been on my mind since I was in eighth grade,” she said. “I’ve always thought it would be a great opportunity and it would be an honor to serve my country.”